Baking, a Love Story

Role Reversal and Bacon and Potato Mini Frittatas

After a 10 hour excursion to the movies Saturday, I woke up on Sunday feeling like I owed my family a great big “Thank you” for letting me go AWOL. I was sure making a good, stick-to-your-ribs Sunday breakfast was a nice way to start. I was thinking hashbrowns, bacon and eggs but maybe not quite so greasy, and after a little research, found these fairly healthy Cooking Light Muffin Cup Frittatas and knew that I had landed on the right recipe. They are stuffed with crumbled bacon, sauteed diced potatoes and peppers (in a little bacon grease!), and are topped with a smattering of grated cheddar.

These would be a perfect “Thank you” to my daughter, Zoie, who had helped me out of a bind. That’s what happens when you have teenagers. They come to your rescue now and then. Don’t believe all of the bad press; teenagers may be a little moody and hormone crazed, but in my case they also happen to be wonderful.

The problem was, I had gotten my dates mixed up for my big movie extravaganza day where I was going to a theater “festival” with one of my best friends to watch four out of nine of the Best Picture nominees. I had been looking forward to it for a month, but then somehow I woke up and forgot that this was the magical day and once my friend reminded me, I was frantically scurrying about my kitchen throwing snacks together.

I had pictured this day quite differently and had planned on making some nice little gourmet sandwiches and having French Lemonade to sip but then in typical Geni fashion, I was running late and just throwing together whatever we had lying around; peanuts, pistachios, chocolate covered pomegranate seeds and pretzels were what I could come up with, but no makings for lunch.

There was not going to be a lunch break during our 10 hour movie fest but only a 45 minute dinner break. The idea of hotdogs and nachos was starting to plague me as I raced upstairs to grab my purse. As I walked back into the kitchen, I found Zoie adding to my snack bags, putting a few napkins in and scrunching up the brown paper sacks so they would fit inside my ginormous purse. I felt a sweet pang as I realized that my daughter was taking care of me.

Just before I ran out the door, she shouted out, “Bring Advil and tissues! You get headaches at the movies and sometimes you cry.” How does it go from buttoning up her sweater and stuffing her lunchbox to her packing my lunch and making sure I had everything I needed?

Later, when I broke into my snack bag (all of 5 minutes into movie one), I found some surprise Gummi Bears added to my nuts and pretzels. Jackpot! Then during movie number two, I found the good stuff; crackers slathered with peanut butter. That’s when I needed the tissue; although War Horse was a real tear jerker, my tears came when I found the crackers.

For Garnishes: chopped chives and a teaspoon of nonfat Greek Yogurt. OR if you are making them as appetizers, top with salmon roe on top of the Greek Yogurt instead of bacon crumbles. Oh yeah.

To make the Frittatas: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray the heck out of a regular muffin pan. The reviewers from Cooking Light said that they had trouble getting them out of the pan. I did not since I heeded their warning. This recipe makes about 14-16 so if you have another muffin pan, spray a few more muffin spaces on the second one and cook the two trays at the same time; otherwise you may have to wait to make a second batch.

Peel and dice your potatoes so you they are small cubes. Place your potatoes in a small pot and add water to just barely cover the potatoes. Add a shake or two of salt to your water. Bring to a boil and cook until almost tender but not too tender since they will cook in the oven a little more later. Drain and run cold water over them when done to stop the cooking process. Reserve potatoes and set aside.

Throw your 1/2 of onion in a food processor if you are lazy like me or chop by hand in a fine dice if you need a good cry. Chop your red pepper as well. Everything should have a nice, fine dice but not be mushy or tiny.

Cook your bacon in a frying pan and dry the grease off of your bacon by rolling them in paper towels. In a saute pan, pour about 2 T. of the bacon grease into it. Turn your burner on medium-high and once the pan is hot toss in your onions. Saute onions for about a minute and then add the potatoes and red peppers. Throw in your thyme, salt and pepper. Saute until a little golden (about another minute or so). Crumble your cooled bacon into the potato mixture. To cool my potatoes, I put them in a bowl so that they didn’t stay hot in the pan. I knew I would be adding them to eggs and i didn’t want the eggs to curdle.

Beat the egg beaters and three eggs together in a medium mixing bowl. Add a pinch of salt and a few grinds of fresh pepper like you would to scrambled eggs. Add the potato mixture and stir to combine well. Using an ice cream scoop fill each muffin cup 2/3 full. They will rise. Make sure to wipe off any spillage that occurred on the pan before you put the pan in the oven. The egg drippings would burn easily. I even wiped the top of my pan with a paper towel which had been doused in a little cooking spray to ensure the frittatas wouldn’t stick to the top of the pan should they spill over the rim. Top each uncooked frittata with a large pinch of the cheddar cheese (about a Tablespoon). Cook for about 16 minutes or until golden and firm.

Serve with a dollop of Nonfat Greek yogurt, more crumbled bacon and some chopped chives. These make a great brunch item that is easily served and hand held if need be. Cooking Light suggests these as mini-muffins and to serve as appetizers. I would top them with salmon roe for apps.🙂

Awww…I know exacty how you feel with your daughter! Every now and then, and it gets more and more as the years pass, my daughter will surprise me with her caring and attention – imagine that, it’s not all about her all the time! What a fun long day at the movies!! I don’t know if I could last through that many movies, I get pretty antsy!! Yum on these muffins! Do you think they can be frozen and warmed up for a quick breakfast mid week?

And my tears are starting now! That is just too sweet.🙂 You give me hope for the teen years. And I love your movie marathon day! What a great idea. As for these little bacon and egg cups – yum!!!! You had me at bacon grease.😉

War Horse was fantastic but I cried the whole time. If you are a horse lover, a human lover and or a war hater, than this movie may make you cry harder than you have cried at any movie. But it was pretty spectacular.

I heard everything I needed to with “They are stuffed with crumbled bacon, sauteed diced potatoes and peppers (in a little bacon grease!), and are topped with a smattering of grated cheddar.” These with be on the table come this weekend.🙂

Ahh, you give me faith in teenagers, Geni! What a sweet thing for you daughter to do – and how fun to do an Oscar movie marathon… I am so jealous! I bet these tasty treats did the trick for your family.🙂

What a beautiful daughter! I loved reading every minute of it. Sounds like you have wonderful, thoughtful and caring kids.🙂
I love making mini frittata’s, so easy and convenient for food on the go! Hope you had a fun movie extravaganza!

Your daughter really does rock. I’ve been wanting to do the all day Oscar movie marathon as well. I think actually put it on the calendar and do it next year! It sounds like fun and definitely an event requiring plenty of great snacks.

Yup, these are pretty dang BRILLIANT!! Such a clever way to eat/serve a fritatta. Thanks for the idea. I love how you decorated the tops too, with the dollop of sour cream and garnishes. Your daughter sounds lovely.🙂

It makes me happy to see that your daughter does such sweet things. You’re so wonderful, and I’m glad to know she sees that.🙂
And these mini frittatas, they look amazing. I need to make these to have as breakfast through the week.

That is so sweet! so there is hope for the teenage years!
I love the idea of a movie marathone! a brilliant way to break routine.
Those frittats sound like something my family will enjoy…thank you for sharng Geni